Hello everyone i am new to this site and new to owning a Harley Shovel head, my wife just went out and bought me a 1972 FLH Electra Glide ($4,000.) When she brought it home after having our son drive it back to our house, i tried to start it again the (Previous owner had installed an electric starter and disconnected the kick start) the starter was dragging to the point it would not turn the engine over. I put a jump box on it and it started right up with the starter. I let it run for about 20 mins. and turned it off and tried the stater again but no luck. Still the same as if the battery had not enough charge to run the starter. Can anyone tell me what might be the problem i am having withthis issue

 

Dead battery?

 

Dead battery...It doesn't charge at idle

 

Dead battery and you will be needing a new one with a old shovel much more frequently than if you had a newer bike.

 

letting it idle-run for twenty minutes does not add to the charge of battery
over 1500-2000RPM IIRC

 

if it's not the battery, you have a problem with your stator or voltage regulator.

 

Get a battery charger (not a trickle charger or a battery tender) and charge the battery. Then make sure all the connections at the battery, starter, starter relay and starter solenoid are tight. Be careful with your wrench, if you hit metal while tightening the positive leads at the starter and solenoid you will complete the ground and sparks will fly! You can wrap tape around the wrench to keep this from happening. This MAY allow the engine to start but it may fail the very next day indicating that your battery isn't HOLDING a charge. If that fails pull the battery after it's been charged and take it to one of the auto supply stores that test batteries and have it tested with a load. If the battery fails you will need a new one. Hope this helps....good luck!

 

BS - My last one went 7 years. '79 FLH...and Wal-mart still stocks that big battery.

 

I have a feeling it had more to do with the quality of the batteries back then than with the bike.

 

thanks everyone for your time to respond to this issue it was the battery got a new one and she starts up fine now again thanks for the help love this forum